Leonard Cohen

Listen to the brilliant poet and songwriter, recorded live at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Cohen revisits a body of work that's more than 40 years deep and full of songs that have inspired every generation of songwriters since.

The legendary singer-songwriter is touring the U.S. for the first time in 15 years. He joins Terry Gross to talk about his poetry, his songwriting and his time at a retreat called the Zen Center.

Leonard Cohen's poetry career began 50 years ago with the 1956 publication of Let Us Compare Mythologies. His new volume of poetry is called Book of Longing. Cohen, known better as the deep-voiced writer of songs that straddle the folk-rock fence, is also working on an upcoming album to be released later this year.

The itinerant troubadour, composer and performer of "Suzanne," "Sisters of Mercy" and "Bird on a Wire" has a growl of a singing voice that seems to simmer and grumble up through the chords, almost like an earthquake. His new album, I'm Your Man, has already sold a quarter of a million copies in Europe.

With songs like "Suzanne," "Bird on a Wire," "So Long, Marianne" and "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye," singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen created his own brand of folk-rock art music. Listeners discovered Cohen's songs in the mid-'60s when Judy Collins recorded "Suzanne," and Cohen followed that by recording his own album of his songs. Cohen discusses his career with Terry Gross.

Leonard Cohen, a singer and songwriter of tremendous depth and wisdom, has always been a seeker. In a career spanning more than 40 years, he's examined the mysteries of human sexuality, religion and power with a tremendous range of complex emotions and poetry. In July 2008, Cohen took the stage at London's 02 Arena and gave a stunning performance, as part of his first tour in 15 years. Hear the concert as an exclusive preview on a new two-disc set, Live in London, here on NPR Music.

On this edition of All Songs Considered we've got an eclectic mix of live performances for you: Legendary crooner Tom Jones plays at the desk of host Bob Boilen, Leonard Cohen offers a rare and intimate concert from The Beacon Theatre in New York, and Antony and the Johnsons give an eerily beautiful performance from Washington, D.C. Also on the show: U2 returns with its best album in years, and a new Daniel Lanois-produced album from Rocco DeLuca and the Burden.

On this edition of All Songs Considered we've got an eclectic mix of live performances for you: Legendary crooner Tom Jones plays at the desk of host Bob Boilen, Leonard Cohen offers a rare and intimate concert from The Beacon Theatre in New York, and Antony and the Johnsons give an eerily beautiful performance from Washington, D.C. Also on the show: U2 returns with its best album in years, and a new Daniel Lanois-produced album from Rocco DeLuca and the Burden.